Jewish Music Stars to Perform in Support of LGBTQ Orthodox Youth in NYC

Posted on December 10th, 2017

on eJewishPhilanthropy

Top Jewish musicians with large Orthodox followings will launch the first-ever Benefit Concert supporting JQY, a leading provider of crisis and support resources for at-risk LGBTQ Jewish youth from Orthodox homes. Matisyahu, Neshama Carlebach, Gedalia Penner and Eli Schwebel will perform for an expected audience of 400 people of all orientations, ages and denominations on Sunday, December 17th at 6pm. Sandi DuBowski, Director of “Trembling Before G-d,” will be honored at the event with the inaugural JQY Trailblazer Award.

The 8 Genders of the Talmud

Posted on December 3rd, 2017

BY LEAH FALK for Jewniverse

If you want to smash the gender binary (by, for example, giving transpeople a comfortable place to pee), Judaism can feel like an odd fit. The obligation to observe commandments is traditionally divided along male/female lines: men pray three times daily, while women don’t have to; men put on tefillin, while women do not. Some women’s recent efforts to observe the religious privileges they’re exempt from have made ripples in the Jewish world, and even the news.

A Comprehensive and Updated LGBTQ Hanukkah Gift Guide!

Posted on November 26th, 2017

BY SHIRA BURNS for myjewishlearning.com, reprinted from Keshet Blog. Note, this article appeared in 2016.

This year Hanukkah happens to begin on Christmas and end on New Years. With all that’s happening on your calendar, it can be hard to find a time to go shopping for those you love– so we’ve done it for you! Below you’ll find clothing, decorations, books, and more for the queer Jews and allies in your life! (Click on each gift to find out where to purchase it)

A queer femme/transfeminine interfaith feminist celeGAYtion

Posted on November 19th, 2017

From OffBeatBride.com

It was important to both of us to represent both of our faith traditions, and to incorporate our vibrant, polyamorous, queer, trans communities as much as possible. We had a huge wedding party (14 people!) because there are so many people who are incredibly dear to us…

My partner is a bearded, genderqueer, transfeminine person, and it was really important to us to be visible and proud about our relationship because so many people think that people like us can't (or don't deserve) to find love and happiness. Caleb rocked a gorgeous wine-colored wedding dress, while I went with a more traditional white gown, and we did our damndest to show the world that love like this will not be hidden.

The Nazi Trifecta

Posted on November 12th, 2017

Kenny Fries for Jewish Book Council

At a dinner party soon after I moved to Berlin, a German guest recounted the story of his struggle to restore the bomb-battered grave of his grandfather at the Jewish Cemetery in Weissensee. He regaled the dinner guests, telling us about his phone call to the cemetery administrator, who told him the requirement that all new gravestones are required to quote scripture.

“But my father wasn’t a believer,” he complained to the administrator. “He wouldn’t have wanted scripture, Jewish or otherwise, on his tombstone. He was a Communist.”

“Make up your mind,” demanded the administrator. “Was your grandfather a Jew or a Communist?”